OnePlus Nord 4 5G Review: The OnePlus Nord 4 5G stands as a formidable contender in the sub-Rs 30,000 segment, offering a well-rounded package that impresses on multiple fronts. From its robust performance to its stylish design and competent camera setup, this smartphone has much to offer. Having used the OnePlus Nord 4 5G extensively, I can confidently say it is one of the best phones in its price range. Here’s an in-depth review of my week-long experience with this device.
Design and Build: The Return of Metal
One of the standout features of the OnePlus Nord 4 5G is its metal construction. In an era where plastic and glass dominate, the return to an all-metal body is both nostalgic and practical. The aluminium body provides durability and a premium feel that plastic and glass often lack. Despite concerns about heat management, OnePlus has engineered the Nord 4 5G to stay cool even during intensive tasks, thanks to a new internal structure that creates a thermal conduction barrier.
Throughout my testing, which included using the phone for work, social media, and gaming, I did not experience any significant heating issues. The device maintained its cool even in the hot Delhi weather, demonstrating the effectiveness of its thermal management.
Performance: Smooth and Snappy
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip, the OnePlus Nord 4 5G delivers smooth and lag-free performance. Paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 storage, this device handles multitasking with ease. Whether I was running multiple apps simultaneously or playing graphics-intensive games, the Nord 4 5G did not falter.
In benchmark tests, the Nord 4 5G scored 1868 on single-core and 4348 on multi-core tests in Geekbench. On PC Mark’s Work 3.0 test, it achieved a score of 12915. These scores reflect the phone’s capability to handle everyday tasks and more demanding applications efficiently.
Software and User Interface: Clean and Customizable
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G runs on OxygenOS, which offers a cleaner and more customizable experience compared to other Android skins. While it does come with some pre-installed apps, these can be uninstalled, allowing users to keep their interface clutter-free.
A major highlight is the long-term software support promised by OnePlus. The Nord 4 5G will receive four years of software updates and two additional years of security updates, ensuring the device remains up-to-date and secure for an extended period.
AI Features: Enhancing Everyday Use
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G is equipped with several AI features that enhance user experience. These include AI Audio Summary for transcribing recordings, AI Record Summary for summarizing emails, and AI Text Translate for translating text. During my testing, these features performed impressively, with the AI Record Summary standing out as particularly useful for transcribing interviews and meetings accurately.
Battery Life: Long-Lasting and Reliable
The battery life of the OnePlus Nord 4 5G is another strong point. With a 5,500mAh battery, the device easily lasted over a day on a single charge, even with heavy usage. I had Bluetooth connected to the OnePlus Watch 2R and the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro, and used the phone as an internet hotspot, yet it drained only about 55% in 12 hours.
The phone comes with an 80W charging adapter, which charges the battery from 0 to 60% in approximately 35 minutes. While not the fastest charging in its segment, the combination of long battery life and decent charging speed makes it manageable for most users.
Display: Stunning Visuals
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G features a 1.5K AMOLED display that is absolutely stunning. With the ProXDR technology, the display adjusts brightness and clarity based on the content and surrounding lighting, ensuring optimal viewing quality. The screen delivers rich colors and deep blacks, with a pixel density of 450 ppi and a peak brightness of 2,150 nits. However, the auto-brightness feature struggles slightly in direct sunlight.
Camera: Impressive for Its Class
The camera setup on the OnePlus Nord 4 5G exceeded my expectations. The portrait mode delivers vibrant colors and good background blur, although edge detection could be improved in certain lighting conditions. In low light, images tend to be slightly oversaturated, but overall, the camera performance is commendable for this price range.
The selfie camera also produces detailed and colorful images, though edge detection remains an issue in low-lit environments. Despite these minor quirks, the Nord 4 5G’s cameras are capable of capturing social media-ready photos with ease.
A Strong Contender in Its Price Range
Having tested several smartphones in the same category, including the Oppo Reno 12 Pro, Xiaomi 14 Civi, and Realme 12 Pro+, the OnePlus Nord 4 5G stands out for its balanced performance, stylish design, and excellent battery life. Priced starting at Rs 29,999 for the base variant and Rs 35,999 for the top model, the Nord 4 5G offers great value for money.
With its robust build, smooth performance, long-term software support, and impressive display and camera capabilities, the OnePlus Nord 4 5G is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a reliable and feature-rich smartphone in the sub-Rs 30,000 segment.